William S. Paxton: Bobby V never fit with dysfunctional Red Sox

Updated 12:20 am, Friday, October 5, 2012

Bobby Valentine talked about waking up and having "a long bike ride" after a painful Red Sox season came to an end Wednesday night with a 14-2 loss to the dreaded Yankees in Game 162. The only part the 62-year-old skipper left out in his message to the media were the words "into the sunset."

To the shock of no one, Bobby V was shown the door by the Red Sox on Thursday after one very long, dreadful season. The kid from Stamford -- who was not only a high school superstar in baseball, but also football -- was basically doomed from the moment he took over the RMS Titanic, err Red Sox, at a press conference on Dec. 2, 2011.

But awkward is exactly how Valentine fit with the Red Sox since Day One. This was not going to be like the time a liquored-up Jerry Jones opted to fire Jimmy Johnson after winning a Super Bowl to insert imbecile Barry Switzer to run a Dallas Cowboys' squad that was so good, not even the former Oklahoma coach could mess it up on the way to a second title.

Nope.

This Sox squad was so flawed in the clubhouse coming in, it already cost player-friendly skipper Terry Francona -- a two-time World Series champion -- his job after last September's collapse, when the players excelled in eating poultry and washing it down with beers in the clubhouse during games.

Bobby V knows the game, and is also not shy about speaking his mind -- which seems an odd addition to a clubhouse full of monster egos and sensitive ears. Just ask Kevin Youkilis, who was the first of several players to have their feathers ruffled by the new skipper's outspoken nature.

Not only were players on edge, but many spent more time in the trainer's room than on the field.

And one of the few healthy players, Adrian Gonzalez, sulked most of the time instead of producing like one of the top power hitters in the American League.

Even with all the hits to the offense, the one spot where the Red Sox seemed to be rock-solid coming into the season was the starting rotation of Jon Lester, Josh Beckett and Clay Buchholz. The biggest question mark on the staff was Felix Doubront, whom Valentine liked in spring training and turned out to be one of the most consistent starters.

The great starting staff did so well, it finished the year with a robust ERA (4.70), only slightly better than bottom-feeders Minnesota, Cleveland and Colorado.

Once the Sox realized the players, not the skipper, was the biggest problem, it was too late. Gonzo, Crawford and Beckett were sent to the West Coast and the Red Sox were left with a lineup built with four-A players and future Atlantic Leaguers.

Rolling into September, Bobby V seriously said the team was going to do a lot of winning with its piecemeal roster, and then the Red Sox did nothing but lose. And badly.

With a 69-93 finish, the franchise's worst record since 1965, it was clear Valentine had to go. But my question is, why was he even brought in in the first place?

Cherington didn't want him and the team didn't even allow Valentine to pick his own coaching staff.

It was almost as if the Red Sox brass had no idea what to do after firing Francona and having GM Theo Epstein leave for Chicago, so they just grabbed a name manager and opted to sink or swim with him, keeping the team status quo.

If Valentine worked, it would be great. If not, oh well.

Now Valentine will have plenty of time for bike rides, while the Red Sox's brass tries to rebuild out of the ashes from a lost season.